Worm inside hermit crabs shell

[ReeferJustin]

I seem to have some kinda of worm living inside my hermit crabs shell, if anyone knows what kinda it is or what can be done about it please let me know

 

[terraincognita]

I love this hobby. Stuff like this is the best.

I'm maybe not seeing it totally but looks more like a pod is just roaming around, he'll probably leave eventually.

nvm i see the tubular structure poke out now. idk. weird.

I never really studied up on them that much before but now that you've posted this I'm doing more research.

They have a 4th and 5th pair of legs also hidden in their shell you really never see.

Potentially what you're seeing and more probably is one of those legs,

I doubt a hermit crab would allow for a worm to live like that inside for a prolong period of time.

Most hermits can fully retract into their shell, and I don't think they're the type to be very sharing with their home.

 

[ReeferJustin]

Hey Incognita, and thank you for the reply.

Its hard to see in that video but I do not think it is one of its legs, It seems to have its own set of feelers and looks as if it might have been trying to pull in some on the brine shrimp that I had just added, I do also think its very odd that a crab would let a worm live with it.

I also managed to get a slightly better video

 

[afishbestservedcold]

that is nuts. is it bothering the crab at all?

if not i think its pretty cool, why not keep it?

 

[ReeferJustin]

The crab doesn't seem to be bothered at all by the "worm?" but long story short I have worked hard to keep my tank pest free and don't want little worms all over everything, I have him in a qt in a graveyard of snails, er, with a bunch of other shells to choose from.

It is interesting though, when i add food to his tank you can see the little feelers stick out of the side trying to catch the food.

 

[samnaz]

Spionid worm

 

[Michael C.]

Hey Incognita, and thank you for the reply.

Its hard to see in that video but I do not think it is one of its legs, It seems to have its own set of feelers and looks as if it might have been trying to pull in some on the brine shrimp that I had just added, I do also think its very odd that a crab would let a worm live with it.

I also managed to get a slightly better video

Being English I don't recognize this particular worm, but over here Hermit Crabs regularly have lug-worms as "lodgers".